Collar support



Aug. 5, 1958 H. A. TOMA RlN COLLAR SUPPORT Filed July 10, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

HARRY A. TOMARl/V Aug. 5, 1958 H. A. TOMARlN 2,846,127

COLLAR SUPPORT Filed July 10, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 HARR Y A. TOMARl/V Y ZZ 5;.6' INVENTOR.

[L B V I .J 22 W ATTiNE? Aug. 5, 1958 H. A. TOMARIN 2,846,127

COLLAR SUPPORT Filed July 10, 1956 4 Sheets-Shet s 8A. INVENTOR.

HARRY A. TOMARl/V ATTORNEY Aug. 5, 1958 H. A. TOMARlN COLLAR SUPPORT Filed July 10, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN VEN TOR.

HARRY A. TOMAR/IV BY Unite industries Incorporated, Reading, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application July 10, 1956, Serial No. 596,924

3 Claims. (Cl. 223-83) This invention relates to a collar support, such as may be employed in the packaging of mens soft shirts after laundering and refinishing.

Collar supports and protectors of one type or another are used extensively by launderers in preparing soft-collar shirts for return to customers. Such devices generally are cut and formed inexpensively from cardboard, and many different types thereof have been introduced to the industry, each claiming superiority over the other; however, the fact remains that the completely satisfactory collar support heretofore has not yet been devised, as is evidenced by eiforts toward improvement being expended continuously and diligently by those who are conversant with and skilled in the art of laundering and packaging shirts having attached soft collars.

A study of the prior art reveals that there are two general types of collar supports, namely, that which comprises a single reinforcing band with various forms of cut-outs, as typified by the disclosure of such patents as McVay No. 2,344,712 and Gronauer No. 2,045,462, and that type which includes a double reinforcing band, or bands substantially coextensive in length arranged to support the collar neck band both interiorly and exteriorly, as proposed in the patents of Steele No. 2,149,- 1.92 and Fine No. 2,518,330.

Of the two general types above mentioned, the double band reinforcing Support is usually regarded as the most eifective type for maintaining a soft collar in proper condition, since it will withstand repeated handling and transport without crushing or distortion, and its application to the shift collar is performed with ease and dispatch. The single band type of support generally lacks the strength and rigidity required to maintain a standing condition of the collar under normal handling and transport procedure, unless the device is constructed of heavier stock of a more substantial type, which adds materially to the cost of manufacture and distribution to users. Moreover, in the manufacture of the single band form of support, cutting the necessary shapes from the cardboard stock usually results in the production of considerable waste, Which is regarded as prohibitive when a high grade heavy material is used in an effort to obtain the strength and rigidity needed for acceptable performance of the finished collar support.

A: object of the present invention is to produce an improved collar support of the double band type, which is mizde of inexpensive cardboard stock, but which neverlhBlCiES provides more support for the collar and keeps it longer in a standing position under severe handling and transport conditions, than will any similar device heretofore designed for the purpose.

Another object is to include in the improved collar support of the invention a unique prop or apron strategically placed to boost the front portion of the collar and its points to a higher elevation relative to the bosom than has been heretofore believed advisable or necessary, with the achievement of several desirable results, namely, betr 4 2,846,127. Patented Aug. 5, 1958 ter protection of the collar and its points against disarray and crushing, enhancement of appearance of the shirt package by filling in the open front portion of the collar, and accomplishment of the improved results mentioned with no expense additional to the cost of a collar support lacking the present advantages.

A further object is to provide an improved collar support embodying the stated advantages, and which may be formed from inexpensive cardboard sheet stock without waste or complex procedure.

The foregoing and other objects are attained by the means described herein and illustrated upon the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a fragmentary perspective view showing the improved collar support applied to a shirt.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the collar support in flat form.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the collar support in the operative condition of Fig. 1, the shirt and collar being omitted.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing a modification of the collar support.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the modified collar support in fiat form.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the Fig. 6 collar support fashioned to the operative condition illustrated by Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view similar to Figs. 1 and 5, illustrating a second modification of the collar support.

Fig. 8A is a plan view showing the second modification of the collar support in flat form.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing the collar support of Fig. 8A fashioned to the operative condition, apart from the shirt and collar.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a third modified form of the collar support, operatively associated wih a shirt and collar.

Fig. 11 is a plan view showing the device of the third modification in fiat form.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the Fig. 11 collar support modification, fashioned to the operative condition illustrated by Fig. 10.

in each form of the improved collar support illustrated, the flat blank M from which the collar support is fashioned comprises a flexible cardboard sheet of uniform thickness, substantially arcuate of contour, and of a length substantially exceeding its width. The blank in each instance is partiaiiy severed in the direction of its length, along curved lines of severance 16 and 18, the lines of severance beginning at the points 20 and 22 at the ends 12 and 26 of the blank, and ending at spaced inner termini 23 and it? near the center of the blank. These lines of severance divide the blank to form an elongate outer panel 32 and a substantially coextensive inner panel 34, the two panels being joined together midway between their free outer ends by the central bridge or strap 36 formed by the uncut material lying between the inner termini 28 and 30 of the severance lines 16 and it The bridge or strap, if desired, may be further defined by cross-cuts 29 and 31 at said inner termini.

Each of the panels 32 and 34 has a curved base edge and an opposite edge arranged in spaced substantial parallelism. The base edge of panel 32 is indicated at 38, and the opposite edge of said panel is at 40; on panel 34 the base edge is identified by the character 42, and the opposite edge by the character 44. When the cardboard device is applied to the shirt as shown, the base edge 38 at opposite cf the button lap 46 rests upon the shirt front 48 exteriorly of the collar band 50, while the opposite edge 40, hereafter referred to as the collar roll support edge, projects up under the collar roll 52 to 3 hold the collar 54 in elevated position. As will be understood, the outer panel 32 rests substantially flatwise against the outer face 56 of the neckband 58, covering the collar button 60.

The inner panel 34 is adapted to support the neckband inside the shirt, and in performance of this function said panel rests substantially fiatwise against the inner face 62 of the neckband, while the base edge 42 thereof reinforces the lower edge of the neckband by distending the latter outwardly with a curvature approximating the natural contour of the neckband. To hold the inner panel against the neckband, the panel may be provided at its free ends with outwardly projected integral tabs 64, 64, which may be hooked under the neckband seam 66 to preclude longitudinal sliding movement of the panel ends relative to the neckband, While at the same time precluding upward displacement of the panel ends. This construction serves also to maintain the upper edge 44 of the inner panel in substantial parallelism with the collar roll interiorly of the collar, thereby to protect the collar against crushing while the body portion of the inner panel distends and holds the neckband in upright position. The upper edge 44 of inner panel 34 may be appropriately referred to as the collar roll distender edge, as it performs to constantly urge the collar outwardly toward the collar roll support edge 4t) of outer panel 32, in the region of the collar roll.

Of outstanding importance to the collar support construction herein disclosed is the provision of an integral prop or apron 7%) depending from the middle forward portion of outer panel 32, to present an advanced lower edge 72 adapted to impinge more strongly against the shirt bosom than does any other part of the outer panel. The advanced edge 72 of the apron by preference exceeds in length the width of the button lap 46 and also the distance between the collar points 63, 68 at the lowest joint of the neckband. By virtue of the fact that the advanced contact edge of the prop or apron extends beyond all points on the curved base edge 33 of the outer panel 32, the greatest force of contact of said panel upon the shirt front is at the button lap, where comparatively strong contact is made by the advanced contact edge 72 of the prop or apron.

Since the button lap of a shirt always comprises multiple thicknesses of material, it has the power to quite firmly support the apron edge '72. By furnishing the advanced edge 72 and thereby in elfect substantially increasing the height of the outer panel only locally in the region where it overlies the button lap, a firm and con siderable elevating effect of the collar front is achieved,

which draws upwardly the collar points and prevents the upward curling of the points so commonly noted with the use of known collar supports. The firm support offered by impingement of the apron upon the button lap, constitutes an important factor in preventing crushing of the collar incident to handling, stacking, and transporting newly finished shirts.

It is of importance to note that employment of a prop or apron of limited width located at the base of the outer panel as disclosed, creates no depressive forces upon the single thickness shirt material forwardly of the shoulders, thereby avoiding liability of the panel to press into the single thickness material with resultant distortion and possible marking of the material along the collar.

The fact that the prop or apron is integral with the outer panel and therefore assumes the same transverse curvature when the collar support device is tucked between the collar and the neckband, assu es a rigid and substantial support for the front portion of the collar. From the standpoint of production cost, it is noted that the material of which the prop or apron is constituted, may be taken from the base edge portion 42 of an ad jacent blank when punched from a whole cardboard sheet, or strip, leaving a shallow cut-out 75 in the inner 4 panel which in no way depreciates the function of the inner panel to interiorly reinforce the collar neckband.

Finally, it may be noted that the prop or apron presents a pleasing appearance at the front of the collar, by virtue of its ability to fill in the so-called open portion of the collar between the points thereof. This is, of course, merely incidental to the principal function of the apron or prop, but may be regarded as an advantage of some merit since the objective of pleasing appearance is sought in connection with all tforms of collar supports.

With particular reference now to Fig. 2 of the drawings, it will be noted that the overall length of the lower edge 72 of prop or apron 70 may be from to of the overall length of outer panel 32 which, in commercial embodiments thereof, measures about8n between ends 24 and 26.

The overall height of the outer panel at the prop or apron is inall instances greater than the height of the collar band measured between the inside of rolled edge 52 down to the intersection between the shirt bosom and collar band in order to obtain a positive lifting or elevating effect on the upper or rolled edge of the collar.

In actual practice uniformly satisfactory results have been obtained in those instances in which the olfset or projection of the prop or apron has been in the neighborhood of from one-quarter to one-half inch greater than the overall width of the outer panel beyond said prop or apron.

The foregoing completes the disclosure so far as Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, are concerned. Because of the close basic similarity of the modified forms illustrated by Figs. 5 to 12, no difiiculty will be experienced in applying the foregoing explanation to all the drawing figures, which illustrate only minor differences of structure not concerned with the basic theme of the invention. For example, the only difference presented by Figs. 5, 6 and 7 over the disclosure of Figs. 1 to 4, resides in the shape and extent of the cut outs 80 which form a pad overlying the roll of the collar at the front portion thereof. In all other respects the collar support is formed and used in the manner described in detail with reference to Figs. 1 to 4, inelusive.

Figs. 8, 8A and 9 present minor dilferences in the cutouts 82, 82, which are quite similar to those shown at 80, 80 of Fig. 6, the structure being otherwise identical to that illustrated and described in the disclosure of Figs. 1 to 4.

In Figs. l0, l1 and 12, the cut-outs 84, 84 are fancifully shaped in simulation of a bow tie, which of course has no functional effect upon the prop or apron 70, or any other elements of the collar support performing to furnish adequate support and protection for the collar. Except for the nature of the cut-outs 84, 84, the structure disclosed by Figs. 10, 11 and 12 is identical to that of Figs. 1 to 4.

Besides those illustrated, various other modifications and changes in structural details may be made, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A collar support of the double panel type lfOI' application to a finished folded shirt having a neckband of fixed width, a central button lap, and an attached soft collar including spaced divergent points flanking the button lap, and having a collar roll, said collar support comprising a single flexible elongate sheet of cardboard having upper and lower edge portions correspondingly curved, said sheet being slitted longitudinally inwardly from its ends along a curved line corresponding generally to said upper and lower edges of said sheet, the ends of the slits being spaced from each other to form a bridge piece, and the sheet being folded along the said bridge piece to provide an inner elongate panel and an outer elongate'panel each having a convexly curved base edge, a collar roll support edge on the outer panel disposed in spaced substantial parallelism with the lower base edge of the outer panel, an upper edge on the inner panel disposed in spaced substantial parallelism with the base edge of the inner panel, the outer panel being adapted to be positioned between the collar and neckband of the shirt, and the inner panel positioned at the inner side of the neckband, and an apron integral with and projecting downwardly from the central portion of the lower edge of the outer panel, the apron extending in opposite directions from the middle point of the base edge of the outer panel and being of suflicient length so that when the same is flexed in the application of the outer panel to the shirt, the apron will extend in the plane of the outer panel in rigid supporting relationship therewith, the width of the outer panel except for the apron approximating the width of the neckband, the combined width of the outer panel and apron being greater than the width of the neckband, the apron having a lower contact edge adapted to impinge upon the button lap of the shirt when the collar support is applied thereto, said apron acting to lift the upper rolled edge portion of the collar and support the neckband and collar wings in elevated position, whereby 6 crushing of the collar and upward curling of the collar points is prevented.

2. A collar support as specified in claim 1, wherein the extent of the apron lengthwise in opposite directions from the middle point of the outer panel base edge is sufficient to span the width of the button lap of the shirt.

3. The collar support defined in claim 2 in which transverse slits are formed in the sheet at the inner ends of the longitudinally extendingslits so as to provide a relatively wide bridge piece which is adapted to be seated on the end portions of the neckband between the ends of the collar roll.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,149,192 Steele Feb. 28,.1939 2,559,406 Darling July 3, 1951 2,568,871 Steele Sept. 25, 1951 2,587,860 Kohl et a1. Mar. 4, 1952 

